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Alexandra Correia

Bio: Alexandra Correia is an academic researcher from University of Helsinki. The author has contributed to research in topics: Drug delivery & Candida albicans. The author has an hindex of 31, co-authored 109 publications receiving 2732 citations. Previous affiliations of Alexandra Correia include Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular & University of Porto.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed three lignin nanoparticles (LNPs): pure LNPs, iron-III-complexed LNNs, and Fe3O4-infused LNN.

271 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results reveal that BSA‐coating significantly improves the origami stability against endonucleases (DNase I) and enhances the transfection into human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells and attenuates the activation of immune response in mouse primary splenocytes.
Abstract: Fully addressable DNA nanostructures, especially DNA origami, possess huge potential to serve as inherently biocompatible and versatile molecular platforms. However, their use as delivery vehicles in therapeutics is compromised by their low stability and poor transfection rates. This study shows that DNA origami can be coated by precisely defined one-to-one protein-dendron conjugates to tackle the aforementioned issues. The dendron part of the conjugate serves as a cationic binding domain that attaches to the negatively charged DNA origami surface via electrostatic interactions. The protein is attached to dendron through cysteine-maleimide bond, making the modular approach highly versatile. This work demonstrates the coating using two different proteins: bovine serum albumin (BSA) and class II hydrophobin (HFBI). The results reveal that BSA-coating significantly improves the origami stability against endonucleases (DNase I) and enhances the transfection into human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Importantly, it is observed that BSA-coating attenuates the activation of immune response in mouse primary splenocytes. Serum albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood with a long circulation half-life and has already found clinically approved applications in drug delivery. It is therefore envisioned that the proposed system can open up further opportunities to tune the properties of DNA nanostructures in biological environment, and enable their use in various delivery applications.

160 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The developed nanosystem has clinical potential for the oral delivery of insulin and therapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus and the permeability of insulin across Caco-2/HT29-MTX/Raji B cell monolayers is enhanced.

160 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Sequence analysis of the 26S rDNA D1/D2 gene variable region revealed that the two clinical isolates were closely related phylogenetically to C. glabrata and K. delphensis, but differed sufficiently to justify their assignment as representatives of a separate species.
Abstract: Two yeast strains, 153MT and NCYC 3133, isolated from clinical sources in separate hospitals were found to be almost identical in the sequences of the D1/D2 domain of large-subunit rDNA, the PCR fingerprinting profiles and physiological characteristics. The isolates are phenotypically similar, although not identical, to Candida glabrata and Kluyveromyces delphensis (recently renamed Nakaseomyces delphensis). Sequence analysis of the 26S rDNA D1/D2 gene variable region revealed that the two clinical isolates were closely related phylogenetically to C. glabrata and K. delphensis, but differed sufficiently to justify their assignment as representatives of a separate species. The name Candida bracarensis sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species with the type strain 153MT (=CBS 10154T=NCYC D3853T=CECT 12000T).

131 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of the microevolutionary changes between isolates from recurrent infections indicated that the genotype alterations observed could be the result of events that lead to the loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and this could be related to exposure to fluconazole, since such strains were exposed to this antifungal during treatment.
Abstract: Five new microsatellite loci were described and characterized for use as molecular markers for the identification and genetic differentiation of Candida albicans strains. Following the typing of 72 unrelated clinical isolates, the analysis revealed that they were all polymorphic, presenting from 5 to 30 alleles and 8 to 46 different genotypes. The discriminatory power obtained by combining the information generated by three microsatellites used in a multiplex PCR amplification strategy was 0.99, the highest ever reported. The multiplex PCR was later used to test a total of 114 C. albicans strains, including multiple isolates from the same patient collected from different body locations and along episodes of vulvovaginal infections. Three different scenarios for strain relatedness were identified: (i) different isolates that were revealed to be the same strain, (ii) isolates that were the same strain but that apparently underwent a process of microevolution, and (iii) isolates that corresponded to different strains. Analysis of the microevolutionary changes between isolates from recurrent infections indicated that the genotype alterations observed could be the result of events that lead to the loss of heterozygosity (LOH). In one case of recurrent infection, LOH was observed at the CAI locus, and this could have been related to exposure to fluconazole, since such strains were exposed to this antifungal during treatment. The analysis of microsatellites by a multiplex PCR strategy was found to be a highly efficient tool for the rapid and accurate differentiation of C. albicans strains and adequate for the identification of fine microevolutionary events that could be related to strain microevolution in response to environmental stress conditions.

128 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
24 Dec 2004-Science

1,949 citations

Journal Article
29 Jun 1993-Genomics
TL;DR: In this paper, a genotypic screen was developed to identify a heterozygous recessive mutation at the URA3 locus, which was introduced by targeted mutagenesis, homologous integration of transforming DNA, to avoid introduction of extraneous mutations.

1,595 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review presents an update on the current understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of this important human pathogen and reveals novel virulence mechanisms have recently been discovered.
Abstract: The polymorphic fungus Candida albicans is a member of the normal human microbiome. In most individuals, C. albicans resides as a lifelong, harmless commensal. Under certain circumstances, however, C. albicans can cause infections that range from superficial infections of the skin to life-threatening systemic infections. Several factors and activities have been identified which contribute to the pathogenic potential of this fungus. Among them are molecules which mediate adhesion to and invasion into host cells, the secretion of hydrolases, the yeast-to-hypha transition, contact sensing and thigmotropism, biofilm formation, phenotypic switching and a range of fitness attributes. Our understanding of when and how these mechanisms and factors contribute to infection has significantly increased during the last years. In addition, novel virulence mechanisms have recently been discovered. In this review we present an update on our current understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of this important human pathogen.

1,417 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The advancement of nanocellulose-based biomedical materials is summarized and discussed on the analysis of latest studies (especially reports from the past five years) and focused topics for nano cellulose in biomedicine research in this article are discussed.

1,226 citations

01 Oct 2004
TL;DR: The nature and function of the immune response to fungi is an exciting challenge that might set the stage for new approaches to the treatment of fungal diseases, from immunotherapy to vaccines.
Abstract: Fungal diseases represent an important paradigm in immunology, as they can result from either a lack of recognition by the immune system or overactivation of the inflammatory response. Research in this field is entering an exciting period of transition from studying the molecular and cellular bases of fungal virulence to determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms that maintain immune homeostasis with fungi. The fine line between these two research areas is central to our understanding of tissue homeostasis and its possible breakdown in fungal infections and diseases. Recent insights into immune responses to fungi suggest that functionally distinct mechanisms have evolved to achieve optimal host-fungus interactions in mammals.

992 citations